Face Mask Strap Support Band Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A face mask strap support band apparatus for preventing mask straps from irritating ears includes a band body having a band outer side, a band inner side, a band top edge, a band bottom edge, a band left edge, and a band right edge. A pair of catch members is coupled to the band body. The pair of catch members is coupled to the band outer side and includes a left catch member and a right catch member proximal the band left edge and the band right edge, respectively. Each catch member selectively engages an ear strap of a face mask.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to face mask accessory devices and more particularly pertains to a new face mask accessory device for preventing mask straps from irritating ears. The present device includes a support band with a pair of catch members. Each catch member selectively receives one strap of the face mask.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to face mask accessory devices. Known devices feature face masks with a variety of strap configurations. These devices are integrated into the face mask and are not designed for use with other masks.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a band body having a band outer side, a band inner side, a band top edge, a band bottom edge, a band left edge, and a band right edge. A pair of catch members is coupled to the band body. The pair of catch members is coupled to the band outer side and includes a left catch member and a right catch member proximal the band left edge and the band right edge, respectively. Each catch member is configured to selectively engage an ear strap of a face mask.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a face mask strap support band apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new face mask accessory device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7 , the face mask strap support band apparatus 10 generally comprises a band body 12 having a band outer side 14, a band inner side 16, a band top edge 18, a band bottom edge 20, a band left edge 22, and a band right edge 24. The band 12 may have a pair of folded portions 26 adjacent the band left edge 22 and the band right edge 24 to provide reinforcement for attachments. The band body 12 may be elasticized. A band length 32 between the band left edge 22 and the band right edge 24 may be equal to five times a band width 34 between the band top edge 18 and the band bottom edge 20. The band body 12 may have a stitch support 36 extending around the band top edge 18, the band bottom edge 20, the band left edge 22, and the band right edge 24 to prevent fraying.

A pair of catch members 38 is coupled to the band body 12. The pair of catch members 38 is coupled to the band outer side 14 and includes a left catch member 40 and a right catch member 42 coupled proximal the band left edge 22 and the band right edge 24, respectively. Each catch member 38 is configured to selectively engage an ear strap 44 of a face mask 46. Each of the pair of catch members 38 may be a button 48. Each button 48 has a plurality of attachment apertures 50 to receive an attachment thread 52 sewn through the band body 12 in the folded portions 26. Each of the pair of catch members 38 may alternatively be hooked or otherwise shaped to selectively engage the ear strap 44.

In use, the face mask strap support band apparatus 10 allows for a method of use 60 comprising a step 62 comprising having the face mask 46 having a pair of ear strap 44. A step 64 comprises having the face mask strap support band apparatus 10. A step 66 comprises engaging the pair of ear straps 44 with the pair of catch members 38. A step 68 comprises positioning the face mask 46 over the mouth and nose with the band body 12 behind a user's head. There may be a step 70 comprising having a second face mask strap support band apparatus 10. A step 72 comprises engaging the pair of ear straps 44 with the pair of catch members 38 of the second face mask strap support band apparatus 10. A step 74 comprises positioning the second face mask strap support band apparatus 10 on top of the user's head.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

1. A face mask strap support band apparatus comprising: a band body having a band outer side, a band inner side, a band top edge, a band bottom edge, a band left edge, and a band right edge; and a pair of catch members coupled to the band body, the pair of catch members being coupled to the band outer side and including a left catch member and a right catch member proximal the band left edge and the band right edge, respectively, each catch member being configured to selectively engage an ear strap of a face mask.
 2. The face mask strap support band apparatus of claim 1 further comprising each of the pair of catch members being a button.
 3. The face mask strap support band apparatus of claim 2 further comprising each button having a plurality of attachment apertures to receive an attachment thread sewn through the band body.
 4. The face mask strap support band apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the band body having a pair of folded portions adjacent the band left edge and the band right edge.
 5. The face mask strap support band apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the band being elasticized.
 6. The face mask strap support band apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a band length between the band left edge and the band right edge being five times a band width between the band top edge and the band bottom edge.
 7. The face mask strap support band apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the band body having a stitch support extending around the band top edge, the band bottom edge, the band left edge, and the band right edge.
 8. The face mask strap support band apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: the band body having a pair of folded portions adjacent the band left edge and the band right edge, the band being elasticized, a band length between the band left edge and the band right edge being five times a band width between the band top edge and the band bottom edge, the band body having a stitch support extending around the band top edge, the band bottom edge, the band left edge, and the band right edge; and each of the pair of catch members being a button, each button having a plurality of attachment apertures to receive an attachment thread sewn through the band body.
 9. A method of supporting a face mask comprising: having a face mask, the face mask having a pair of ear straps; having a face mask strap support band apparatus, the face mask strap support band apparatus comprising: a band body having a band outer side, a band inner side, a band top edge, a band bottom edge, a band left edge, and a band right edge; and a pair of catch members coupled to the band body, the pair of catch members being coupled to the band outer side and including a left catch member and a right catch member proximal the band left edge and the band right edge, respectively, each catch member being configured to selectively engage an ear strap of a face mask; engaging the pair of ear straps with the pair of catch members; and positioning the face mask over the mouth and nose with the band body behind a user's head.
 10. A method of supporting a face mask comprising: having a face mask, the face mask having a pair of ear straps; having a pair of face mask strap support band apparatuses, each face mask strap support band apparatus comprising: a band body having a band outer side, a band inner side, a band top edge, a band bottom edge, a band left edge, and a band right edge; and a pair of catch members coupled to the band body, the pair of catch members being coupled to the band outer side and including a left catch member and a right catch member proximal the band left edge and the band right edge, respectively, each catch member being configured to selectively engage an ear strap of a face mask; engaging the pair of ear straps of each face mask strap support band apparatus with the pair of catch members; and positioning the face mask over the mouth and nose with the band body of one of the face mask strap support band apparatuses behind a user's head and the other face mask strap support band apparatus on top of the user's head. 